Clerk recognizes robber as frequent customer, police say

The man accused of robbing a local convenience store apparently lived within walking distance.

Despite 25-year-old Jonathan Mangum's best efforts to hide his identity, his proximity to the crime helped police make the arrest, officials said.

Police said Mangum made sure he was covered from head to toe and even had a cloth across his face. They said he forgot an important detail -- he robbed a place he normally shops and he robbed a clerk he's talked to before.

Officials said he pointed a handgun at the clerk with a red laser sight and the clerk is seen holding up her hand, asking for a chance to get him the cash drawer. As he tells her to hurry up she gives the money to him, he takes the cash and leaves.

From the video, authorities said they would have been lost because nothing seen in the video can identify the robber.

Officials said one thing tripped up Mangum, he lives nearby and shops at the store.

"She recognized him as a customer. He was a regular in her store," said Sanford police Lt. Jim McAuliffe.

The clerk and Mangum even lived in the same complex. Authorities went to his place and asked his mom to visit the store and look at the surveillance video.

"(She) identified her son as being the perpetrator, based upon his walk," said McAuliffe. "She said that was her son."

Mangum confessed and told police he needed cash because he owed some guys some money, according to investigators. He asked investigators to pass along a message to prosecutors, "Will you tell the state attorney that I was crying and stuff?"